2003-04-04 Planning Commission Minutes

Home

It was moved by Commissioner Kubota and seconded by Commissioner Mina that the application be approved based on and incorporating the Planning DirectorÓs recommendation with Condition 3(a) amended to read, ÐNo more than fifteen (15) children and no more than five (5) prenatal care students shall receive services at any one time from all programs conducted on the subject property.Ñ Commissioner Graham stated although feels very supportive of the project; however, he did have concerns of traffic on the main highway coming into Waimea. Mr. Emler noted they do have the State DOT traffic counts taken in 2002 if the Commission wishes to review them, adding they feel a left-turn lane is warranted in the area based on the existing traffic flow. Mr. Graham felt it was impractical to require a left-turn lane as the permit is for only five years. Mr. Fuke said the applicant did do a traffic count which pretty much corroborated what Mr. Emler mentioned in terms of the volume of traffic in the morning; however, the Commissioners will find, as he did this morning, breaks within the traffic that are largely generated by the school buses. Mr. Yuen explained that part of the DepartmentÓs recommendation for not pushing for a left-turn lane is that the project was scaled down to a relatively small project, the property is on a straight-away so it is less likely to have a situation where a person will be rear ended and there is a need to have this type of a facility in the Community. Mr. Yuen added another way to look at the situation is where will these students go if the application is denied, noting he was not sure if there was a great place to have a pre-school in the Waimea area that does not create the same problem. Mr.Yuen pointed out that the Planning Department has had inquiries about similar kinds of things for somewhat larger facilities and the Department has not been able to give them a definitive answer in advance whether they would require a left-turn lane or not. Upon the ChairÓs inquiry, there was no one in the audience wishing to submit a request for a contested case hearing on this item. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with eight ayes (Kubota, Mina, Graham, McCall, Smith, Springer, Thibadeau, and Galdones) and one absent and excused (Fujiakwa). REZ 03-003The Commission took this item up at 9:47 a.m. with JAMES B. DUSELapproximately 40 people from the public in attenda KEALAKEHE, NORTH KONA APPLICANT: JAMES B. DUSEL (REZ 03-003) - Application for a Change of Zone by changing the district classification from Agricultural (A-20a) to Agricultural (A-10a) and Family Agricultural (FA-3a) for approximately 21.725 acres of land. The property is located in Kealakehe Homesteads, First Series, approximately 700 feet east of Mmalahoa Highway bordering the Upper Government Road and two homestead roads, and approximately 500 feet south of the Makua Lani Christian Science School and one mile southeast from the Mmalahoa Highway-Palani Road junction, Kealakehe, North Kona, HawaiÒi, TMK: 7-4-3:7. (SEE EXHIBIT A) RECESSEDThe Chair called a short recess at 11:03 a.m. RECONVENEDThe meeting reconvened at 11:17 a.m. 3